John Braithwaite 4th December 1932 - 6th October 2014
John passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday 6th October leaving his loving wife Shirley – children Karen and Jeff, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also John and Kaz his daughter and son in law.
His funeral will take place on Tuesday 21st October 11.45 at Bramcote Crematorium and afterwards at Derbyshire Hotel. The family would love you to join them in a celebration of his life.
John was born and raised in Long Eaton with his eight sisters and one brother – his parents ran the bakery on Waverley Street for many years. Following his national service , he worked at the Brush Company at Loughborough and latterly for David Clowe plumbing and heating in Long Eaton.
He met and married Shirley Alice Atkin in March 1957 – their two children Karen and Jeff completed his family.
The family moved to South Normanton in 1967 many new friends were made and John became an active member of village life. Managing the youth football team and playing for the local cricket club. He had an active role on the PTA of Frederick Gent School. He was a member of Junction 28 drama group and appeared enthusiastically in many productions. He set up and ran a business in the village for many years - JCJ Plumbing and Heating Merchants.
Whilst his interests were many and varied John’s main passion in life was his family – specifically his beloved grandchildren Chris, Julie, Jemma, James and Kate. John’s life was completed by their arrival and he loved nothing more than to be with them – passing on his knowledge and wisdom and letting them get filthy in his garden.
His family grew to include Abbie, Sophie and Harry and six great grandchildren Jack, Ben, Joshua, Archie, Bella and Violet.
John will be so very missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
‘Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass - it’s about learning how to dance in the rain’
This donation comes from Dai Denby, a good friend of Dad's who ran South Normanton Colts.
Gladys Hudson, Dad's sister - really please that you came today.
Jean and Pete Marriott and Enid and Brian who wer good friends.
Thank you to you all
So much to say about my wonderful Grandad, and so many lovely memories shared here already, where to start… From since I can remember, we would spend every Saturday at Nan & Grandad’s and we would always be doing something. Whether it was pottering in the greenhouses, collecting fruit from the trees using a length of drainpipe, or playing cricket with a bat fashioned from an offcut of a sheet of 8 x 4, there would always be something interesting. I’ll never forget the fear of climbing on the fragile garage roof to get the ball back, or of the terror instilling fire drills! We would dig holes in the garden, have bonfires, search the pond for frogspawn and see tadpoles grow into frogs. You helped to teach me how to ride my bike on the yard and I’m sure there is still some gravel left in one of the many scars on my knees from the countless times I fell off! You were always there to pick me up again. You loved your roses in the garden and Roses from the tin even more so! You would save the strawberry and coffee crèmes just for me. You enjoyed being in the kitchen, whether it was preparing bread and gravy for breakfast when we came to stay, making the best jam ever or turning the latest crop of fruit into wine. I don’t think I will ever forget the pungent smell of the wine room next to the back bedroom! You would take us to The Gate on a Wednesday lunchtime or if the weather was fine, we would go and see the planes at East Midlands Airport after picking up a pizza and a bottle of Tizer from Castle Donnington. You would tell stories of your time completing National Service stationed in Germany after the war. I remember the one where you set yourself on fire, and when you saw a wild wolf. You even taught me a little German; “Haben sie fire bitte?” Although I’m not sure if I’ll ever need to ask a German for a light any time soon! My friends can still remember you once helped out on a primary school trip where we walked to Wingfield Manor. You loved to walk, although not always in the right place! I will never forget your sense of humour; the bottomless pit of embarrassing jokes. You were the best practical joker, you used to love to pretending to push people in the pond. You were ever the dramatist, playing Widow Twanky or the pantomime dame at the Picture Palace. Grandad, you would always be there for us, no matter what. You will be remembered forever xxxx
So much to say about my wonderful Grandad, and so many lovely memories shared here already, where to start… From since I can remember, we would spend every Saturday at Nan & Grandad’s and we would always be doing something. Whether it was pottering in the greenhouses, collecting fruit from the trees using a length of drainpipe, or playing cricket with a bat fashioned from an offcut of a sheet of 8 x 4, there would always be something interesting. I’ll never forget the fear of climbing on the fragile garage roof to get the ball back, or of the terror instilling fire drills! We would dig holes in the garden, have bonfires, search the pond for frogspawn and see tadpoles grow into frogs. You helped to teach me how to ride my bike on the yard and I’m sure there is still some gravel left in one of the many scars on my knees from the countless times I fell off! You were always there to pick me up again. You loved your roses in the garden and Roses from the tin even more so! You would save the strawberry and coffee crèmes just for me. You enjoyed being in the kitchen, whether it was preparing bread and gravy for breakfast when we came to stay, making the best jam ever or turning the latest crop of fruit into wine. I don’t think I will ever forget the pungent smell of the wine room next to the back bedroom! You would take us to The Gate on a Wednesday lunchtime or if the weather was fine, we would go and see the planes at East Midlands Airport after picking up a pizza and a bottle of Tizer from Castle Donnington. You would tell stories of your time completing National Service stationed in Germany after the war. I remember the one where you set yourself on fire, and when you saw a wild wolf. You even taught me a little German; “Haben sie fire bitte?” Although I’m not sure if I’ll ever need to ask a German for a light any time soon! My friends can still remember you once helped out on a primary school trip where we walked to Wingfield Manor. You loved to walk, although not always in the right place! I will never forget your sense of humour; the bottomless pit of embarrassing jokes. You were the best practical joker, you used to love to pretending to push people in the pond. You were ever the dramatist, playing Widow Twanky or the pantomime dame at the Picture Palace. Grandad, you would always be there for us, no matter what. You will be remembered forever xxxx
You are the best Grandad I could have ever asked for. My childhood is filled with the happiest memories of you. These are my favourites and I know you’d be smiling if you were reading them.
Lying in bed whilst you read me Rosie and Jim and Portland Bill. Arguing with James about who got to sleep in Dad’s old room. Playing hot or cold for hours and hours with us. Cacti, everywhere. Watching BayWatch, old black and white cowboy/wild west films and Little House on the Prairie with with you. Watching the video of you in Aladdin as Widow Twankey. Watching Bambi, Lady and the Tramp, the Jungle Book, Snow White and Cinderella whenever we came to stay. Teaching me how to do a jigsaw. The freezer that was filled with jigsaws in the kitchen. Teaching me about Sherlock Holmes. Teaching me to tie my shoelaces. Teaching me how to write (all in capitals, much to my Mum’s horror – Sorry Mum!) Photographs hung in the strangest places. Having to ask for a bag of crisps from the cupboard in the living room. Shake n salt.
You losing your glasses when they were sat on top of your head. Always having a pen or pencil behind your ear.You having a song for every occasion. You whistling/singing/humming constantly. Bathing Fluke in the giant black tubs from one of your garages. Finding the bowl of strawberries you kept in the fridge for when all the grandchildren came around, and dipping them in sugar whilst we stood at the kitchen worktop. Fire safety talks about potential escape routes every time we slept over… involving windows, mattresses, cuddly toys and shimmying down a rather large conifer tree. Going through and snuggling in bed with you and Nan in the morning. You sat in your vest and underwear at the kitchen table eating the bread and gravy Nan made you for breakfast. You shining me up a copper ring. Always getting up to mischief whenever Jemma was around!!
You pollinating your tomatoes in the greenhouse with a little red paintbrush. Watching you plant seeds and potter in your greenhouses. Watching you chase around the garden to pick up all the polystyrene cups that the wind blew off the top of the gardening canes (so you wouldn’t poke your eye on them when you bent down). You shouting at Christian next door for mowing over your flower beds. Frogs and tadpoles in the pond. Playing in the garages. The bouncy castle you kept in the end garage and planned to fix one day. Sitting in the big, mossy green van that was parked at the bottom of the garden for as long as I can remember with all the cousins and pretending to drive it. You heating up plasters with a blob of savlon on them on the hob – a treatment suitable for almost any ailment. Numerous Jackie birds. You helping me to rescue a baby bird. Rolling us up inside the old checked blue mattress from the gazibo/summerhouse and rolling us around the garden. The smell of the gazibo in the summer.
Baby Susie.
Don’t tell Kate.
FEE. FI. FO. FUM. I SMELL THE BLOOD OF AN ENGLISHMAN!
Bloody hell Shirley!
John, John put your trousers on! But I have got them on!
In the car pulling onto the A38 to take us home - You’re alright, You’re alright, You’re alright, You’re alright, You’re alright…
Why oh why, Delilah?
Absolute endless, endless patience. You always put your family first. You had all the time in the world for us and made us all feel like the apple of your eye… Thank you for everything, you will live on forever Grandad. Love you always. Miss you every single day xxxx
fond memories, pond dipping in particular, will always remember you with a smile my face x much love to those closest to you at this time x
(Trivial pursuit, not monopoly..!)
Many happy memories of playing monopoly at Christmas, and uncle john singing 'don't know much about history' every time a history question came up :-) Love to his closest family at this time xx
Strawberries. Rhubarb so bitter that you ate every bite with a bucket of sugar. Digging. Tadpoles. Scary garages. Montegos. Aeroplanes or the Gate on a Wednesday. Rod Stewart. Even scarier shop. Clipping Jamie Alford round the tab for swearing. Angry Policeman. Moussaka. Questionable moussaka. Massive bath. Washer woman / muscle man. Catching him crying at a terrible film. Terrible jokes. Endless endless patients.
My childhood was a very happy one and my Grandad played no small part in that. Thanks Strawbs x x x
Sorry I missed you for all those years but the ones I did were the best, thanks.
You were the most wonderful Grandad ever, we have nothing but happy memories...and lots of them! Everything was an adventure - getting dirty in digging in the garden, Wednesday afternoons at East Midlands airport (with picnic!), home made high jump, sleepovers...the list goes on. More than anything though, I remember always feeling loved and always laughing.
You're forever in our hearts Grandad xxx
The best Grandad in the world ever! Love and miss you so much Strawberry Grandad xxx
A huge thank you to a very special Father -in- Law for welcoming me and my children into your lovely family. It's clear you always thought the world of them all and I can see that many of your lovely ways have passed onto Jeff. You always kept that mischievous glint and I'll so miss your cheeky goodbyes. Keep singing. Lots of Love -Kaz. Xxxx Big hugs to Grandad Johnny from Abbie, Sophie and Harry xxxx
Lovely memories of a very special Father-in-Law who never lost his twinkle. Lots of love always- Kaz xxxx
Johnny Braith. My memory is of a fine figure of a man. A good looking sportsman with a shock of thick black hair. A man of high morals, strong opinions and a look that could wilt a cactus! A little bit scary to a youth of 17! You became a great friend and father in law. A constant source of help and guidance for anything from raising the kids to fitting a kitchen. You always had time. Thank you. Massive Respect.
I could fill a book with memories of you - but here's a couple Taking me and Jeff to the pub at Trent Lock for crisps and a limey lemon - there was a dog that if you gave a crips to he barked thank you. And swimming on a Sunday morning - you used to bribe us with a shilling if we swam further each week. Thank you dad you were always there xxxx
Strawberry Grandad, so many beautiful happy memories my childhood is filled with them. Sleepovers at nan and grandads while mum n dad were on the raz, watching stars in their eyes and dancing to Zorbas dance, You were always the best at it! couldnt have wished for a kinder, funnier and more loving Grandad. Im so lucky to have had you as mine. All the nicest things you have passed on to mum and she has passed to me and im making sure i pass on to my children. You will live on forever Grandad. Love you always xxx
Love you and will miss you Dad xxxx
Will miss you as you were, such funny moments we shared.
Mike and Anne, Frances and Anthony xx
Rest in peace Uncle John, a lovely man to have known xxx
My lovely brother. So lovely to see an old photo, you handsome devil....
You will be greatly missed Uncle John. I have nothing but happy memories.
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